Firearm



May 7, 1929- LQL. DRIGGs. JR., Er A1. 1,712,382

FIREARM Filed Ma'rcn 2o, 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet l l. IN

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May 7, I 1... Lublsss, JR., Er AI. 1,712,382.

l ,FIRABM Filed mii-n 2o, 192s '2 Sheets-sheet? Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITv sT L'UIS Il'. DRIGGS, JR., NEW ROCHELLELAND HENRY B. FABER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application led March 20, 1928. Serial No. 263,024.

,1n a great variety of other ways, some of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The invention will be more clearly understood after j reference to the accompanying` vdrawings in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure l isa side elevation ofthe irearm showing a projectile whose main body is larger than the bore of the firearm.

Figure 2 shows a section along the line 2 4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and it shows the spring latch for holding the ammunition in the bore in the engaging position.

Figure 3 shows the central longitudinal and the rear end of the projectile,"parts lbeing shown in elevation, and the trigger being show-11 in the cocked position, and the spring latch being shown as engaging the annular groove at the'end of the cartridgecase.

Figure 4 is a similar section to Figure 2, but shows the spring latch in the disengaging position, in which position the cartridge case may be caused to drop out of the gun by gravity, and

Figure 5 is a similar view toFigure 3, but shows the barrel tilted slightly and thecartridge case just starting to'slide downwards out ofthe bore. j

, The firearm comprises a body portion .A having a short barrel with a large bore A". This is preferably smooth and` of cylindrical shape without rifiing, so that the rear endV of the cartridge case may slide freely therein. This body portion A ispreferably made of heavy metal, and provided with a handle A', so that a sufficient amount of inertia may be supplied to the rearm when the piece is fired.

The handle A may be in the form of a section through themain body of the pieceA pistol grip, and may be roughened as at a', if desired.

The rear wall of the breech of the piece is `perforated as at wo to perni-it the entrance of the tiring pin b carried by the hammer B, which is pivoted as at lb, and provided with the cooking arm b2, and with the notch bs for the main spring, and with the toe b* to engage the trigger piece, as will be hereinafter described.

This hammer is pivoted in a suitable recess in the breech of the piece, and is actuated by the main spring C, which is arranged to throw the hammer forward violently when the main spring, being under compression, is suddenly released, which spring is normally set to slightly withdraw the firing pi'n after firing to the masked position shown in Figure 3.

D represents the trigger piece provided withpthe trigger d and with the toe al en' gaging the hammer toe b4. This trigger piece is pivoted in a recess in the gun, as at d2, and is provided with a forwardly projecting lug d3 engaging -the trigger return spring E. This spring yields when the trigger is drawn back, as in firing the piece, but normally returns the trigger in the engaging position, as shown in Figure 3. The trigger is protected by the usual trigger guard F secured to the piece in any convenient way, as by the screws f.

Mounted in the transversely disposed recess Az of the breech of the n is a spring impressed latch G which is pivoted at g and is provided with the engaging lug g and with the thumb lug g2, which latter projects lbeyond the side of the piece, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 4. This spring latch is normally pressed into en gement with the rear portion of the cartridge case by means of the latch spring G', shown in Figure 2, but this latch can be withdrawn by pressing down on the thumb lug g2, as shown in Figure 4. To supplement the short barrel of this firearm, as just described, the cartridge case is itself made of sucient strength to constitute an auxiliary barrel through which the propelling gases escape, and which should not be ruptured by the low pressure used in the device, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The cartridge case may be cylindrical throughout, but, in order to carry a more bulky projectile than could be inserted'in 110 the cylinder of slightly less diameter than the bore of the gun, that part of the cartridgecase which is exterior to the barrel when the piece is loaded may be of materially larger diameter than the bore of the gun, and we have illustrated such a construction of cartridge case in Figures 1, 3 and 5,

which cartridge case and its contents are` illustrated, Adescribed and claimed in our separate copending application, filed March 20, 1928, Serial No. 263,026, and entitled Improvements in fixed ammunition for lire arms, but for the purpose of illustrating the operation of the gun, this cartridge case and its contents will be now briefly described. I represents the main body of the cartridge case which' is provided with the inwardly projecting shoulder z', which shoulder terminates in the reduced cylindrical portion or stem I of the cartridge case, which stem is constructed to slide freely in the smooth bore of the piece. This stem is provided with the perforation o in yits rear wall and with an annular groove i near the base thereof. In this perforation o is mounted a small blank cartridge J containing powder to drive `the contents of the cartridge case outwards to the desired distance.

In front of this perforation i", the stem of the cartridge case is provided with an enlarged recess in which the propelling gases expand before acting on the base of the projectile, and thus lessens the effect of the recoil. The projectile, as shown, comprises a pad K of felt or other similar material, which serves as a gas check at the base of the projectile, and in front of which is the block M, preferably of wood, chambered as at Mo to receive the expulsion charge used in expelling the parts of the projectile from its case. This expulsion charge L is ignited after' a short interval by means of the fuse, or fuses, L. Exterior to the block M is the cylindrical shell O which encloses the flare composition Q, and the sealing disk P in the rear of same; and this flare composition Q, is mounted in an inner cylinder shell R which telescopes in the shell O. Forward of the flare charge'Q is the enclosed head S of the flare chamber, which is connected by the wire T tothe parachute U, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Assuming the piece to be loaded and the hammer cocked, the operation will be as follows: A

Pulling the trigger will fire they blank cartridge J and the expanding gases will drive the projectile out of t-he enlarged portion I of the cartridge case. The flame from the propelling charge will ignite the fuse L', and, after the fuse has burnt through the desired time interval, it will ignite the powder charge L, which blows the flare and the 4, parachute out of the cylindrical container O.

At the same time the flare will be ignited and the burning Hare falling will cause the parachute to open, and the terrain beneath will be illuminated, as the are supported by the parachute will slowly settle towards the ground.

While we have Shown, for the sake of illustration, a projectile containing a flare and a parachute, obviously other types of signals may be fired from the piece, such for instance, any well-known pyrotechnic signals or bombs, or light bombs, or containers for tear gas or smoke signals, or any other device which may be mounted in the cartridge case and having a stem adapted to slip into the smooth bore barrel of the piece of the character described. j

After the piece has been fired as aforesaid, the cartridge case will normally remain in position in the gun, but it may be readily released by pressing downon the thumb lug g2 of the spring latch and tilting the piece',l

piece, as shown in Figure 5,l and pulling the thumblug g2, 'as shown vin Figurell, and releasing the latch. This may be done with one hand of the operator, which is an especially desirable feature of a device of this kindon aircraft. It will be seen that the piece may be quickly and conveniently loaded, and, when loaded, may be cocked and fired by the use of one hand of the operator, and that either the elnpty or loaded cartridge case maybe released from the bore of the' gun, and allowed to fall clearby pressing down with the thumb of the hand grasping the pistol grip.

While we have shown one embodiment of the invention with its operative parts, whichmaybe cheaply and'conveniently constructed, it will be obvious that various chan es might be .made in the construction, com 1- nation, and arrangement of A parts, which could be used without departing fromfthe spirit of our invention. v v

Having vthus described our invention,

what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A muzzle loading low pressure fire arm,

adapted to 'be used with fixed ammunition provided with a cartridge case, comprising a pistol grip, a short smooth bore barrel,

spring actuated firing mechanism -with a trigger for releasing same, and automatic means for holding the cartridge case in said v barrel before and after firing, with means for releasing same from said barrel when desired.

2. Amuzzle loading low pressure fire arm, said barrel before and after firing, or for adapted to be used with hxed ammunition releasing same from said barrel when de- 10 provided with a cartridge case, having an sired, and means' comprising a spring latch annular groove near its base com rising a adapted to engage in said annulargroove,

`5 hand grip, a short smooth bore arrel of and to be released by hand.

large calibre, spring actuated firing mechanism with a trigger for releasing same, and LOUIS L. DRIGGS, JR. means for retaining the cartridge case in HENRY B. FABER.

DiSC'LjAl MER rimase- Lowa L. -Dm'gga '.*Ne'wfRoehelle mama/@Braam New York, N. Y.

FIREARMS.' Patent'A datf ay 7,' '1929. bisclaimer filed September 23, '1931, by the patenteea Hereby entera `disclaimer lrestric'tmg `claim 1 as Iollows:

' y restricting the element cartrid e casing of said claim 1 toclosed at its rear endand capable of standin the strains of firing and ejcting completely a pro- ]ectlle therefrom Without de ormation of the lcartridge casing.

[0770zal Gazette October 20, 1931.] 

